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Band: Brotherhood
Album title: ...Turn The Gold To Chrome...
Release date: 29 june 2012
Label: AF-music
Tracklisting:
01. End Of Time
02. Abigail
03. Heroine
04. Lost
05. So Many Stars
06. Sleepwalking
07. Over And Over
08. Shame
09. Question And Answer
If this is the future for gothic rock, then, where do I sign? Swedish duo responsible for this masterpiece consists of multi instrumentalist Stefan Eriksson, known for his work with Arcana, Sophia, Cardilax,.. and lead vocalist Micke Lönngren who is known as an A&R man at Diesel Music, the most hyped Swedish record label of the late 90's. The experiences are here, so nothing to be afraid of, even if this is their debut album. Personally I was quite surprised that this gem comes from Sweden and not from one of German speaking countries or perhaps England.
As soon as the album opens with "End Of Time" we became aware that The Sisters Of Mercy from Vision Thing and Floodland are the main references. That must be evidend also from bands name which must refer to Eldricht's project from 1986 The Sisterhood. But, we should leave this at side as Brotherhood's music incorporates much more. Everything what was defining 80's dark and goth sounds is here in the best form, but yet, Brotherhood are not afraid to stretch over the borders with some pop elements, for example in "Abigail", or using Depeche Mode or even Joy Division kind of electronic samples in "Shame" or in "Over And Over". Also some most melancholic moments as heard on The Cure's album Bloodflowers or Pornography are present in one of the highpeaks of the album called "So Many Stars", but, yet everything wrapped into modern veil that makes Brotherhood unique in it's own field. The music is not complex, it's catchy and soultaking from the very first listen on, especially because of so many beautiful, almost danceable rhythms and darkly romantic melodies. Bass lines are one of the kind and are perfectly leading the songs, showing the real power in choruses. On the other hand electronics, which are sparsed here and there, but at the same time not predominant, rather pushed in the background are slightly replenishing the atmosphere. Some of the synth or piano insertions are what every goth fan is waiting for. Acoustic or electric guitars, sometimes heavily distorted and can bring in front some resemblances with Fields Of The Nephilim, are nicely inserted into this picture with quite a lot of masterful moments, just take a listen how everything develops in "Lost" or in beautiful "Sleepwalking". Drum beats show their power in their true form especially in before mentioned "Over And Over". The vocal part is at most times breathtaking, dark, with a lot of reverb used, still very clean and not to deep, the only thing that could be better it's to add some more dynamics into it, but nevertheless, when the female back vocals take their part in "So Many Stars" or in "Lost" we can forgive this lack. Note that the music on ...Turn The Gold To Chrome... it's not something uplifting (maybe "Shame" a little bit) but, very dark and gloomy in it's core, with no special energetic outbursts. Everything is flowing with extravagant drive that really takes you somewhere, from it's beginning till the conclusion with another masterpiece that builds so smoothly "Question And Answer". The production is without mistake and it's another connection with modern sounds. Lyrics fit perfectly with the depressive and romantic kind of this sounds, not to mention the amazing cover artwork.
Brotherhood's debut is one of those albums that everyone, who likes to hear gothic rock sound from the glorious days taking it's modern form and being played in the top notch manner, should just grab it and add it in the memoirs of gothic sounds as something that will be on the playlist many times. Anyway, Brotherhood doesn't give anything that could be described as an original or groundbreaking product, rather than that they, most of the time stay within safe borders of the genre, still this should not be a problem as the ...Turn The Gold To Chrome... it's one of the best listens of this kind since quite a lot of time and gothic rock on the other hand has limited area to be developed much further without becoming kind of a jumble, what was heard to many times. I'm eagerly waiting for their next album...
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 9/10
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